Google’s forthcoming Pixel 11a is shaping up to be a more intriguing buy than the company’s last few budget phones, if a new leak is to be believed. The Pixel 11a might include Google’s Tensor G6 processor, according to Mystic Leaks, giving it the same processing power as the flagship Pixel lineup this year.
The inclusion of a flagship processor would make the budget phone a more attractive buy for prospective Pixel customers; last year’s Pixel 10a was generally considered a bit of a letdown, with essentially no upgrades from the previous year’s Pixel 9a. This cost-cutting measure didn’t give consumers much of a reason to buy the repackaged phone.
The Tensor G6’s rumored new MediaTek M90 modem should also greatly improve the Pixel 11a’s performance over that of its predecessors. As The Verge notes, this upgrade should seriously help with battery drain and signal-dropping, two problems that have long plagued older Tensor processors. Even with a slightly smaller 4,870mAh battery (the Pixel 10a had a 5,100mAh battery), the Pixel 11a’s battery could improve overall battery life. Other than the new processor, the Pixel 11a does indeed look like it will be very similar to the 10a, with a 6.3-inch 1080 x 2424 screen and a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz.
Google’s decision to give the Pixel 11a a significant processing upgrade is particularly interesting in the current tech hellscape of skyrocketing memory costs. Rising smartphone costs have sent global smartphone shipments to their lowest point since 2013, down 11% in the second quarter of this year. Every major tech company is projected to raise their smartphone prices this year. The tried-and-true method of giving each year’s new flagship a slight spec bump with no price hike is no longer commercially viable for these companies.
If Google is able to keep the price of the Pixel 11a firmly in the mid-range (last year’s was $500), the budget phone could be a consolation for consumers looking to buy a new phone without paying for the industry’s memory mania. This might require Google to eat the cost of that Tensor G6 upgrade—but it could be a bet that pays off big if the 11a performs well.
Of course, this is all still just speculation until Google announces its new Pixel lineup at the next Made by Google event on Aug. 12.
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